By Saadet Gokce
ISTANBUL (AA) - Beijing on Tuesday denied "detaining or harassing" a resident of the disputed India-China border region in Shanghai, while reiterating its claim that the state of Arunachal Pradesh, which China calls Zangnan, is Chinese territory.
"Zangnan is China’s territory. The Chinese side has never recognized the so-called 'Arunachal Pradesh' illegally set up by India," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a regular press conference, according to the official transcript.
Beijing's comments came after Pema Wang Thongdok said she was held by Chinese immigration officials at Shanghai airport for 18 hours on Nov. 21 because her passport was considered "invalid" due to her birthplace being listed as Arunachal Pradesh.
New Delhi has lodged a protest with Beijing over the incident, saying Arunachal Pradesh is "indisputably an Indian territory" and its residents are entitled to hold and travel on Indian passports, the Press Trust of India reported Monday, citing government sources.
Responding to the issue, Mao said: "China’s border inspection authorities carried out checks procedures in accordance with laws and regulations, the law enforcement was impartial and non-abusive, the lawful rights and interests of the person concerned were fully protected, no compulsory measures were taken on her, and there was no so-called 'detaining' or 'harassing.'"
"Having border checks on people entering and exiting a country and carrying out law enforcement according to the specific situation of the entry or exit is the usual practice of border enforcement authorities of countries across the world," she added.
New Delhi was yet to react to the latest claims by Beijing on Arunachal Pradesh.
India and China have counterclaims in the northeastern Arunachal Pradesh state of the South Asian nation.